Imaging product selection system

ABSTRACT

A computer system for selecting image products includes a display for displaying digital images, and for displaying representations of image products. Digital images are composited into the displayed representations to form digitally composited image product views. Programming controls displaying the composited image product views separately from the unselected representations. One or more of the displayed composited image product views are selected and assembled or fabricated.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Reference is made to commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. ______ by Mahoney, (Docket 96490) filed of evendate herewith entitled “Imaging Product Selection Method”, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to combining images with imaging-relatedproducts to provide an improved aesthetic combination.

BACKGROUND

Products that include images are a popular keepsake or gift for manypeople. Such products typically include a picture taken by an individualthat is inserted into a product intended to enhance the product, thepresentation of the image, or to provide storage for the image. Examplesof such products include picture albums, posters, picture calendars,picture mugs, picture ornaments, picture mouse pads, and picture postcards.

Images can also be combined with other images, for example templatesincluding background images and one or more image openings into which anindividual's image can be inserted, either mechanically orelectronically with a computer, to form a combined image that displaysthe individual's image in a pleasing or preferred manner. These imageproducts can be provided in hard-copy form, for example as a printedphoto-book, or in electronic form presented by a computer, for examplein an on-line album. Imaging products can also include multi-mediaproducts, especially when in electronic form, that, for example, caninclude motion image sequences or audio tracks.

Selecting suitable multi-image and multi-media product designs can be adaunting challenge for users, particularly when the products includepersonal images. In particular, combining personal images withpre-existing products can pose challenging aesthetic issues. Softwaretools that execute on computers can assist users in designing customizedmulti-image products. Such software products can execute, for example,on home computers. Alternatively, on-line design and printing servicesaccessible through an internet browser interface can assist users indesigning and printing a multi-image product.

Such software and internet design tools can enable users to positionpersonal images or other multi-media elements in a multi-image product,such as a photo-book or collage. For example, users can drag-and-dropimage icons into openings in a visual representation of a multi-imageproduct to specify the multi-image product, for example as is done inthe on-line image printing business of the Kodak Gallery. However, suchan approach to designing a multi-media image product can be verydifficult, as a very large number of different layouts are available andselecting from among them can be tedious, time-consuming, andanxiety-inducing for a user. Alternatively, software and internet designtools include automated layout software that will position a user'simages in various locations in a template without intervention, as istaught for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,340,676.

Automated selection and layout methods, however, do not always selectthe best or preferred layout for a product as desired by a user. Manualselection and composition can be extremely tedious. The computationalrequirements for compositing or demonstrating user images with imageproducts can be large, degrading the interactivity of the operations.Furthermore, it is difficult to display and compare a large number ofcustomized choices.

There is a need therefore, for an improved method for selecting imageproducts customized with user images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a computer system for selecting image products, whichincludes a display for a GUI, for displaying digital images, and fordisplaying representations of image products. Storage in the systemstores the representations and the digital images from a user using theGUI. A pointing mechanism or a tab mechanism (software) is used toselect a subset of the displayed representations. Received digitalimages are composited into the subset of the displayed representationsto form digitally composited image product views. Programming controlsdisplaying the composited image product views separately from theunselected representations. One or more of the displayed compositedimage product views are selected by mouse or by hard or soft keys thattab through the views, or by screen touch directly on the product view.The selected image product corresponding to the selected compositedimage product views is then assembled or fabricated. A server computeris typically utilized to provide these tools and facilities, such as aGUI, and is connected to a remote client computer through a computernetwork for providing these to the remote client computer. The remoteclient computer includes a browser and the server provides it with webpages comprising a version of the GUI suitable for web pages. An imagecan be selected by a user as usual (explained above) for compositinginto each of the selected subset of displayed representations. Apreferred status can be assigned to each of the subset for controlling aprioritized display of the product representations. A GUI facility fortransacting a purchase of the image product corresponding to theselected one or more of the displayed composited image product views isalso provided. The display of selected representations and images isperformed under control for separate display either in a different areaon screen or on a different screen. If a web page version of the GUI isimplemented, then these can also be displayed under different browsertabs. A printer is used to print selected digital images to be placed inthe image product if the product is a frame, for example. Other meansare used if the product is a mug for example.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises anetwork connected computer system with a display terminal for displayingdigital images and representations of image products under a computersystem user's control. The system includes storage for digital imagesand representations of the image products. The digital images areretrieved from an image database accessible by the computer system and aGUI enables a computer system user to select these and to select asubset of the representations of the image products. A software toolcomposites the selected one or more of the digital images into each ofthe selected representations to form selectable composited image productviews. Only the selected composited image product views are thendisplayed. The GUI enables the user to select one or more of thecomposited image product views. A display manager displays only theselected composited image product views. Fabrication or assembly isperformed as necessary manually or by equipment provided.

These, and other, aspects and objects of the present invention will bebetter appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction withthe following description and the accompanying drawings. It should beunderstood, however, that the following description, while indicatingpreferred embodiments of the present invention and numerous specificdetails thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation.For example, the summary descriptions above are not meant to describeindividual separate embodiments whose elements are not interchangeable.In fact, many of the elements described as related to a particularembodiment can be used together with, and possibly interchanged with,elements of other described embodiments. Many changes and modificationsmay be made within the scope of the present invention without departingfrom the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all suchmodifications. The figures below are intended to be drawn neither to anyprecise scale with respect to relative size, angular relationship, orrelative position nor to any combinational relationship with respect tointerchangeability, substitution, or representation of an actualimplementation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with thefollowing description and drawings wherein identical reference numeralshave been used, where possible, to designate identical features that arecommon to the figures, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a set of image products as known in the prior art;

FIG. 2 illustrates the selection of a subset of displayed image productsaccording to a step in a method according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the composition and display of a selected user imageinto the selected subset of displayed image products according to a stepin a method according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 4A-B illustrate the selection and then display of one compositeddisplayed image product according to a step in a method of a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the display of composited user images in a selectedsubset of image products in a browser tab according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of a system forgenerating an image product;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of a desktopcomputer, work station, or kiosk that can be used in a system of FIG. 6;and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, an image product is a product thatincludes a user's personalized images incorporated into an image-relatedobject, such as for example a photo-book, a picture greeting card, apicture mug, or other image-related product. The images can bepositioned in specified pre-determined locations or can be adaptivelypositioned according to the sizes, aspect ratios, orientations and otherattributes of the images. Likewise, the image sizes, orientations, oraspect ratios included in the image product can be adjusted, either toaccommodate pre-defined templates with specific pre-determined openingsor adaptively adjusted for inclusion in an image product. For example,an image selected by a user can be cropped, reduced in size, orenlarged, either automatically according to an algorithm or manually bythe user.

FIG. 6 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of an electronic system20 that can be used in generating an image product. In the embodiment ofFIG. 6, electronic system 20 comprises a housing 22 and a source ofcontent data files 24, a user input system 26 and an output system 28connected to a processor 34. The source of content data files 24,user-input system 26 or output system 28 and processor 34 can bepositioned within housing 22 as illustrated. In other preferredembodiments, circuits and systems of the source of content data files24, user input system 26 or output system 28 can be positioned in wholeor in part outside of housing 22.

The source of content data files 24 can include any form of electronicor other circuit or system that can supply digital data to processor 34from which processor 34 can derive images for use in forming animage-enhanced item. In this regard, the content data files cancomprise, for example and without limitation, still images, imagesequences, video graphics, and computer-generated images. Source ofcontent data files 24 can optionally capture images to create contentdata for use in content data files by use of capture devices located at,or connected to, electronic system 20 and/or can obtain content datafiles that have been prepared by or using other devices. In thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 6, source of content data files 24 includessensors 38, a memory 40 and a communication system 54.

Sensors 38 are optional and can include light sensors, biometric sensorsand other sensors known in the art that can be used to detect conditionsin the environment of system 20 and to convert this information into aform that can be used by processor 34 of system 20. Sensors 38 can alsoinclude one or more video sensors 39 that are adapted to capture images.Sensors 38 can also include biometric or other sensors for measuringinvoluntary physical and mental reactions such sensors including, butnot limited to, voice inflection, body movement, eye movement, pupildilation, body temperature, and p4000 wave sensors.

Memory 40 can include conventional memory devices including solid-state,magnetic, optical or other data-storage devices. Memory 40 can be fixedwithin system 20 or it can be removable. In the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 6, system 20 is shown having a hard drive 42, a disk drive 44 for aremovable disk such as an optical, magnetic or other disk memory (notshown) and a memory card slot 46 that holds a removable memory 48 suchas a removable memory card and has a removable memory interface 50 forcommunicating with removable memory 48. Data including, but not limitedto, control programs, digital images and metadata can also be stored ina remote memory system 52 such as a personal computer, computer networkor other digital system. Remote memory system 52 can also includesolid-state, magnetic, optical or other data-storage devices.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 6, system 20 has acommunication system 54 that in this embodiment can be used tocommunicate with an optional remote memory system 52, an optional remotedisplay 56, and/or optional remote input 58. The optional remote memorysystem 52, optional remote display 56, optional remote input 58A can allbe part of a remote system 21 having an input station 58 having remoteinput controls 58 (also referred to herein as “remote input 58”), caninclude a remote display 56, and that can communicate with communicationsystem 54 wirelessly as illustrated or can communicate in a wiredfashion. In an alternative preferred embodiment, a local input stationincluding either or both of a local display 66 and local input controls68 (also referred to herein as “local user input 68”) can be connectedto communication system 54 using a wired or wireless connection.

Communication system 54 can comprise for example, one or more optical,radio frequency or other transducer circuits or other systems thatconvert image and other data into a form that can be conveyed to aremote device such as remote memory system 52 or remote display 56 usingan optical signal, radio frequency signal or other form of signal.Communication system 54 can also be used to receive a digital image andother data from a host or server computer or network (not shown), aremote memory system 52 or a remote input 58. Communication system 54provides processor 34 with information and instructions from signalsreceived thereby. Typically, communication system 54 will be adapted tocommunicate with the remote memory system 52 by way of a communicationnetwork such as a conventional telecommunication or data transfernetwork such as the internet, a cellular, peer-to-peer or other form ofmobile telecommunication network, a local communication network such aswired or wireless local area network or any other conventional wired orwireless data transfer system. In one useful preferred embodiment, thesystem 20 can provide web access services to remotely connected computersystems (e.g. remote systems 35) that access the system 20 through a webbrowser. Alternatively, remote system 35 can provide web services tosystem 20 depending on the configurations of the systems.

User input system 26 provides a way for a user of system 20 to provideinstructions to processor 34. This allows such a user to make adesignation of content data files to be used in generating animage-enhanced output product and to select an output form for theoutput product. User input system 26 can also be used for a variety ofother purposes including, but not limited to, allowing a user toarrange, organize and edit content data files to be incorporated intothe image-enhanced output product, to provide information about the useror audience, to provide annotation data such as voice and text data, toidentify characters in the content data files, and to perform such otherinteractions with system 20 as will be described later.

In this regard user input system 26 can comprise any form of transduceror other device capable of receiving an input from a user and convertingthis input into a form that can be used by processor 34. For example,user input system 26 can comprise a touch screen input, a touch padinput, a 4-way switch, a 6-way switch, an 8-way switch, a stylus system,a trackball system, a joystick system, a voice recognition system, agesture recognition system a keyboard, a remote control or other suchsystems. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 6, user input system26 includes an optional remote input 58 including a remote keyboard 58a, a remote mouse 58 b, and a remote control 58 c and a local input 68including a local keyboard 68 a and a local mouse 68 b.

Remote input 58 can take a variety of forms, including, but not limitedto, the remote keyboard 58 a, remote mouse 58 b or remote controlhandheld device 58 c illustrated in FIG. 6. Similarly, local input 68can take a variety of forms. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 6,local display 66 and local user input 68 are shown directly connected toprocessor 34.

As is illustrated in FIG. 7, local user input 68 can take the form of ahome computer, an editing studio, or kiosk 70 (hereafter also referredto as an “editing area 70”) that can also be a remote system 35 orsystem 20. In this illustration, a user 72 is seated before a consolecomprising local keyboard 68 a and mouse 68 b and a local display 66which is capable, for example, of displaying multimedia content. As isalso illustrated in FIG. 7, editing area 70 can also have sensors 38including, but not limited to, video sensors 39, audio sensors 74 andother sensors such as multispectral sensors that can monitor user 72during a production session.

Output system 28 is used for rendering images, text or other graphicalrepresentations in a manner that allows image-product designs to becombines with user items and converted into an image product. In thisregard, output system 28 can comprise any conventional structure orsystem that is known for printing or recording images, including, butnot limited to, printer 29. Printer 29 can record images on a tangiblesurface 30 using a variety of known technologies including, but notlimited to, conventional four-color offset separation printing or othercontact printing, silk screening, dry electrophotography such as is usedin the NexPress 2100 printer sold by Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,N.Y., USA, thermal printing technology, drop-on-demand inkjet technologyand continuous inkjet technology. For the purpose of the followingdiscussions, printer 29 will be described as being of a type thatgenerates color images. However, it will be appreciated that this is notnecessary and that the claimed methods and apparatuses herein can bepracticed with a printer 29 that prints monotone images such as blackand white, grayscale, or sepia toned images. As will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art, a system 35, 20 with which auser interacts to define a user-personalized image product can beseparated from a remote system (e.g. 35, 20) connected to a printer, sothat the specification of the image product is remote from itsproduction.

In certain preferred embodiments, the source of content data files 24,user input system 26 and output system 28 can share components.

Processor 34 operates system 20 based upon signals from user inputsystem 26, sensors 38, memory 40 and communication system 54. Processor34 can include, but is not limited to, a programmable digital computer,a programmable microprocessor, a programmable logic processor, a seriesof electronic circuits, a series of electronic circuits reduced to theform of an integrated circuit, or a series of discrete components.

The system 20 of FIGS. 6 and 7 can be employed to make an image product.Referring to FIG. 8, in a method of the present invention, apersonalized image product can be made by providing a graphic userinterface (GUI) on a computer for displaying images and image productsin step 100. For example, the systems 20 and 35 of FIGS. 6 and 7 canprovide such a graphic user interface 27 illustrated in FIG. 7 on localdisplay 66. Such systems are known in the computing arts. In step 105, aplurality of different image products are provided and displayed in theGUI 27. One or more images are received from a user 72 who accesses animage store by operating the GUI 27 in step 110. Images can be receivedthrough the communication system 54 or computer network (e.g. theinternet), from digital storage (e.g. 40) or can be made by scanning animage print, slide, or other media.

Referring back to FIG. 8, means are provided, for example to a remoteuser interacting through a web interface, to select a subset of thedisplayed image products in step 115. FIG. 1 illustrates a variety ofimage products such as are known in the prior art. These image productscan be displayed in a web page and can include a variety of differentimage products and product types. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1,single cards and bi-fold cards can be used, as well as other types ofimage products described above. Referring to FIG. 2, a one or more imageproducts 80 can be selected, for example by checking a selection box 82provided in a graphic user interface. According to various preferredembodiments of the present invention, users can select a desired imagesor image products with a pointing device such as a mouse-controlledcursor or pointer in the graphic user interface.

Referring to FIG. 3 and step 120 of FIG. 8, received images 87 (forexample, images selected by a user) are composited into each of theselected displayed products to form a composited image product view 86for each of the selected image products 84. The composited image productviews 86 are displayed together in a single area in the GUI separatelyfrom the unselected image product views, which can include displayingthe selected image product views on a separate screen where theunselected image product views are not displayed, in step 125.Displaying the composited image product views in a single area enablesthe user to more readily compare the composited image product views tomake a selection from among the composited image products. In step 130,a user selects a desired displayed composited image product 88, such asshown in FIG. 4. Making or fabricating, the selected composited imageproduct with the corresponding selected received image is performed instep 135. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, aGUI can be provided in step 140 to transact a sale of the selected imageproduct, for example to the user or the provider of the received images.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a preferred statusis automatically detected and imparted to each of the selected imageproducts. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the images can beordered from left to right in an order that represents the best choiceto the worst choice, according to a criterion programmed in the servercomputer. The criterion can vary, for example including detectingmatching colors, content, or image quality, and can be provided in imageprocessing algorithms. By ordering the choices, a user can make betterdecisions faster.

(When used herein, the term displayed image product refers to arepresentation of an image product shown in the graphic user interfaceof a display and does not refer to the image product itself. Likewise, aview of an image product or a composited image product is arepresentation shown in the graphic user interface of a display. Toselect an image product or a composited image product is topreferentially indicate a representation of the image product or thecomposited image shown in the graphic user interface of a display. Incommon usage in the art, to display an image object is understood tomean the same thing as to display a view of the image object, and toselect an image object is to preferentially indicate a view of the imageobject on a display screen. To make the selected composited imageproduct is to physically render, manufacture, assemble, or fabricate itinto an object, not to display a view of the composited image product.)

Rendered images of the selected product can be communicated to thirdparties for approval, review, sale, etc. Communications received fromthe third party can be employed for making modifications or for forminga decision with respect to the selected products. In other preferredembodiments, a remote third party who receives a communication canengage in the selection process for digital image selection, orcorresponding product selection. The third party can match selecteddigital images to one or more of the image products of interest andcommunicate their preferences to the user. In a further preferredembodiment, a third party that receives an image, or a web page via linksent to the third party, can purchase the selected composited imageproduct using the same or different GUI or software tools as the firstuser. In particular, the present invention includes transacting a saleof the selected composited image product to a third party selected bythe user. The user can provide an email address of the third partywherein the computer system will forward the electronic file containingthe selected composited image product to the third party over thenetwork.

Images received from user can be derived from a variety of sourcesincluding, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, from astored set of user images, on either the client computer (for example auser's home computer) or a web server operated by a business thatprovides image product services.

According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a userinteracts through a web browser on a client computer with a remote webserver computer that provides imaging services to the user. User imagesstored on a client computer can be uploaded from the client computer tothe server computer and stored on the server computer. In one preferredembodiment of the present invention, a graphic user interface (GUI) isprovided as a web-page browser and the selected subset of compositedimage product views displayed on a different web page than the differentimage product views. This facilitates user selection by displaying onlythe preferred choices. For example, the different web pages can bedisplayed on a different web-page-browser tab than the different imageproduct views. This step can be repeated with successive selectedsubsets of image products and with user images composited with imageproducts, as shown in FIGS. 4A-B. FIGS. 4A and 4B are each intended toillustrate a separate screen presentation displaying only image productsthat were previously selected in the GUI. In this example, as the numberof selected image products decreases, the display of the image productbecomes larger and more comparable to an actual size of the imageproduct.

The present invention provides an advantage over methods found in theprior art by compositing preferred image products with user images toprovide an improved understanding of the image product to a user. Bydisplaying the preferred composited image products separately from theremainder of the image products, selection is made easier. Also, bycompositing images into only those preferred image products that aredisplayed, computational intensity is reduced.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, acomputer system for selecting from a large set ofpersonalized-image-product choices comprises a computer with a displayand graphic user interface (GUI) software for displaying images andimage products in the graphic user interface, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.The computer system includes software for providing and displaying aplurality of image products, software for receiving one or more imagesfrom a user through the GUI, software for selecting a subset of thedisplayed image products, software for compositing a received image intoeach of the displayed image products in the selected subset to form acomposited image product view for each of the selected image products,software for displaying the composited image product views in the GUIseparately from the unselected image product views, and software forselecting a desired composited image product from the selected subset ofdisplayed composited image product views. The computer system includesmeans for making the selected image product with the correspondingreceived image, for example using a printer attached directly to thecomputer or a printer available over a network.

The computer system can include a server computer connected to a remoteclient computer through a computer network that provides communicationsbetween the server computer and the remote client computer. In onepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the remote clientcomputer includes a browser and the server computer includes web pagesthat are provided to the remote client computer through the computernetwork. Software for selecting a received image from a stored set ofuser images is employed, in another preferred embodiment. Software forassigning a preferred status to each of the selected image products isincluded in yet another preferred embodiment. Software for purchasingthe selected image product, for example provided through electronicinternet transaction services, is employed in one preferred embodiment.

A variety of graphic user interfaces can be employed, for example oneincluding software for displaying the selected subset of compositedimage product views on a different web page than the different imageproduct views or for displaying the different web page on a differentweb-page-browser tab than the different image product views.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, software forselecting from a large set of personalized-image-product choicescomprises software for interacting with a remote client computer througha computer network, the remote client computer having a graphical userinterface (GUI), software for receiving one or more images, software fordisplaying a plurality of different image products in the GUI on theremote client computer, software for selecting a subset of the displayedimage products, software for compositing a received image into each ofthe displayed image products in the selected subset to form a compositedimage product view for each of the selected image products, software fordisplaying the composited image product views in the GUI separately fromthe unselected image product views, software for selecting a desireddisplayed composited image product, and software for making the selectedimage product with the corresponding received image. The software caninclude web pages that are provided to the remote client computerthrough the computer network, software for selecting a received imagefrom a stored set of user images, software for assigning a preferredstatus to each of the selected image products, software for purchasingthe selected image product, and software for displaying the selectedsubset of composited image product views on a different web page thanthe different image product views.

As used herein, an image product can be a multi-media product,incorporating multiple different visual and auditory elements, bothstill and dynamic. According to various preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, a multi-media product is an image product thatincludes a user's personalized images incorporated into an image-relatedobject, such as for example a photo-book, a greeting card, a mug, orother image-related product. The images can be still images or imagesequences, such as videos, and the multi-media product can include othermedia features, for example audio tracks, sounds, or sound sequences. Amulti-media product can be a hard-copy product, for example a printedimage together with an audio playback capability, or an electronicproduct, for example in an on-line album with still images, multiplestill images, image sequences, sounds, a sequence of sounds, or audiotracks, or all of these. For simplicity and clarity of discussion, stillimages are described herein, but it is to be understood that the methodsand objects described can include multi-media products that includeimages and can be either hard-copy or electronic and that the presentinvention includes these various preferred embodiments.

Image products and templates can also include multiple pages. Receivedimages do not necessarily have to be composited in all image locations.In general, a cover or a single page is displayed and can includemultiple images on that page. Hence, according to a preferred embodimentof the present invention, multiple received images can be compositedinto selected image products.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference tocertain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

PARTS LIST

-   20 system-   22 housing-   24 source of content data files-   26 user input system-   27 graphic user interface-   28 output system-   29 printer-   30 tangible surface-   34 processor-   35 remote system-   38 sensors-   39 video sensors-   40 memory-   42 hard drive-   44 disk drive-   46 memory card slot-   48 removable memory-   50 memory interface-   52 remote memory system-   54 communication system-   56 remote display-   58 remote input-   58 a remote keyboard-   58 b remote mouse-   58 c remote control-   66 local display-   68 local input-   68 a local keyboard-   68 b local mouse-   70 home computer, editing studio, or kiosk-   72 user-   74 audio sensors-   80 image product-   82 selection box-   84 selected image product-   86 composited image product view-   87 received user image-   88 selected composited image product-   100 provide GUI step-   105 provide and display image products step-   110 receive images step-   115 select image product subset step-   120 composite received images into selected image products step-   125 display composited image products step-   130 select composited image product step-   135 make selected composited image product step-   140 sell selected composited image product step

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A computer system comprising: a communicationsinterface; an input system comprising a graphic user interface (GUI); anoutput system; one or more processors; and a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause the system to: receivefrom the input system, via the GUI, content data files to be used ingenerating an image-enhanced output product; receive from the inputsystem a selection of an output form for the image-enhanced outputproduct; receive from the input system at least one type of content datafile information selected from the group consisting of: audienceinformation, annotation data, and character identification data;adaptively position the content data files into specified output formlocations according a content data file attribute selected from thegroup consisting of: image size, image aspect ratio, image orientations;display a composite rendering of the image-enhanced output product;receive from the input system, via the GUI, instructions to transact asale for the purchase of the image-enhanced output product; fabricatethe image-enhanced output product.
 21. The computer system of claim 1,wherein the GUI is configured to enable image editing methods selectedfrom the group consisting of: image size editing, cropping, imageorientation editing, image aspect ratio editing.
 22. The computer systemof claim 1 wherein the communication interface comprises a subsystemconfigured to convert the content data files into a form that can beconveyed to a remote device using an optical signal, radio frequencysignal, or other form of signal, and the subsystem further configured toreceive a digital image from a remote input system.
 23. The computersystem of claim 1 wherein the computer system is operatively connectedto a remote input system via internet access, and wherein the remoteinputs system is configured to provide to remotely connected computersystem that access the system through a web browser or remote inputsystem can provide web services to the system depending on theconfigurations of the system.
 24. The computer system of claim 1,wherein the content data files are incorporated into an image-relatedobject, the image-related object selected from the group consisting of:a photo-book, a picture greeting card, a picture mug.
 25. The computersystem of claim 1, wherein the GUI is configured to enable a user toarrange, organize and edit content data files to be incorporated intothe image-enhanced output product.
 26. The computer system of claim 2wherein the output system is used for rendering images, text, or othergraphical representations in combination with user items to form theimage-enhanced output product.
 27. The computer system of claim 1wherein the input system is separate from a remote system connected to aprinter such that a specification of the image-enhanced output productis remote from its production.
 28. The computer system of claim 1wherein the input system uses a touch screen display to control the GUI.29. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the input system includesvoice recognition.
 30. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the outputsystem comprises an output device selected from the group consisting of:a thermal printer, a dry electrography printer, and an inkjet printer.31. The computer system of claim 1 wherein purchasing the image-enhancedoutput product is provided through electronic internet transactionservices.
 32. The computer system of claim 1 wherein content data filescomprise any form of electronic or other circuit or system that cansupply digital data to the processor from which the processor can deriveimages for use in forming an image-enhanced output item.
 33. Thecomputer system of claim 1 wherein the content data files are imagesderived from an image capture device, wherein the image capture deviceis remotely operatively connected to the computer system.
 34. Thecomputer system of claim 1 wherein the content data files are derivedfrom a variety of sources selected from the group consisting of: astored set of user images on a client computer and a stored set of userimages on a web server operated by an image product service provider.35. The computer system of claim 1 wherein rendered images of theimage-enhanced output product are communicated to third parties forapproval, review, sale, for making modifications, for forming a decisionwith respect to the selected products, engage in the selection processfor digital image selection, corresponding product selection, matchselected digital images to one or more of the image products ofinterest, or communicate their preferences to the user.
 36. The computersystem of claim 16 further including an image received by the thirdparty or via a web page link sent to the third party.
 37. The computersystem of claim 4 wherein the user interacts through a web browser on aclient computer with a remote web server computer that provides imagingservices, wherein the composited image-enhanced output product isdisplayed on a different web-page-browser tab than the different imageproduct views.
 38. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the computersystem includes means for making the selected image product with thecorresponding received image.
 39. The computer system of claim 1 furthercomprising a housing, an electronic system, a source of content datafiles, a user input system, and an output system connected to the one ormore processors, wherein the user input system and the output system arepositioned in whole or in part outside of housing.